The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-09-11
EXPERTS AT FLY CASTING
A Devotee of the Art Talks About the
Pleasures Of Fly-Fishing for Bass.
Suggestions as to How Fish Can Best be De-
ceiVed - Amateur Fly-Tying and Rod
Making-IIobbies Of City Casters.


tween making delicate cast with imitation
fly and securing your fish, and the old style OF
angling with minnows or worms as there is be-
tween pot-shooting at sitting birds and killing
them on the wing. Not every man who takes to
fy-ishing makes success out of it. As rule.
he leaves out of consideration the very quaifica-
lions necessary in order to deceive the fish, and
wastes his time in whipping the water with an
impossible fly, the like of which bass or
trout has ever seen, or else splashes around with
noise enough to brighten everything within a
hundred yards. There are several important
things never overlooked by the careful and ex-
pert caster, the first and most necessary one be-
ing to avoid disturbing the water in which he
wishes to cast. All game fish easily alarmed,
and the breaking of twg under foot, an awk-
ward dip of an oar. a bunglng throw OF the line,
or an unusual noise of any kind 10 sufficient to
drive the trout or bass from its feeding ground
To be q successful fisher with the fly q man
must be a close observer of nature, or of that
part of it which comprises his fshing.grounds
He must know the season of the year in which
certain insects are Matched, especially if he
is convenient to trout stream, as
salmo fontinalis is largely an insect
feeder, and changes it's diet with the
coming and going of different varieties of
flies. Some of these. like the caddis, are
hatched in the water at the bottom of the
streams but many come to life from little bur-
rows in the ground the bark of trees, or from CO.
hid away in the leaves of overhanging limbs.
have often sat on the banks of White river,
alone with nature, and watched the worms,
bugs and flies drop from a tree bush that
spread its branches over the water, and seen the
Insects sucked with unerring aim into the
mouths of the voracious bass, the red-eye
even the sunfsh. One day, after witnessing
scene of this kind, and having failed to get more
than two or three rises in many hours fishing,
pulled out my fy-book and ransacked it for
the best imitation of the flies most numerous on
the water, and which appeared to be the favor
ties of the fish. Putting two-a stretcher
and a dropper-on my nine-foor leader
i cautiously waded to within casting distance
ana with long, side sweep let my flies fall
lightly under the shadow of the tree. They had
hardly touched the water when l saw sudden
swirl, flash of a TAIL and knew they had been
taken. 1 struck quickly, with a sharp turn of
the wrist. and as the keen points of the hook
went home, two pretty bass leaped foot above
the surface. 1t was more than I had bargained
for, but as was the opposite side of the
stream and had a clear coast, I succeeded in
landing them both after savage fight of about
eight minutes They were beauties-genuine
small mouthed bass-and weighed over pound
and q half each. Again and again I cast with
the same flies, as moved up stream, and was
with plenty of rises but not always with
the same success greeted my first cast How
ever, quit at the end of two hours with seven
teen of as nice bass it has ever been my lot
TO catch. and all, believe, were the result of
my observations while sitting on the bank
the feeding fish.
Ely fishing is much harder work than fishing
with minnows, whether casting from q boat or
wading stream. With minnows you simply
mpale one of them your hook and throw it
put into the water or let the current take the
bait to the desired spot, while you sit or stand
at your leisure but casting the fly it is differ
ent. 1t Is a cast here and cast there. Your
arms, II not your body, are always moving, and
unless you are whipping large pool it is use
less waste of time TO make two casts in the same
place without giving the water a rest If you
succeed in hooking fish, its rushes aud frantic
efforts to free itself from pain will be sure to
frighten others away. 1t is the most fascinating
of all styles of fishing, and man who has once
become endeared to it will ever go back the
use OF bait in any form. One thing that makes
It more exciting than other modes is the fact
that 1t requires light tackle, and when you have
hooked your fish there is always uncertainty
about bringing 1t to the landing-net Another
thing which adds to the interest is the pleasant
anticipation that after several fruitless casts the
next one will bring rise. Herein lies it's great
sst char IN for me- / have often fshed for a
whole day and only secured lingering or two
but with each cast made, l felt a certain inde-
;cribable thrill of expectancy that no amount of
allure could quell. The feeling, although akin
20 that of the gamblers while waiting for the
urn of the cards, is of more elevatng kind
With each cast you hope for better success, as
With each deal the gambler hopes for better luck;
but II you fan In getting q rise it is simply
expense of a little more muscle, while with the
yam bier 1t means a step nearer ruin.
"a good hy-rod is an expensive affair. 1t must
.om bine fexibity with strength and lightness.
t ffers from the pat-rod in that its reeIseat is
below the handle. while that of the bait-rod is
sbout foot from the end or above the wrapping
Many woods employed in their con-
tructon. but the rod that leads in favor is one
made from split bamboo, which is noted for its
oughness and springness. 1t is usually COM
'osed OF five. elk, seven or eight strips. cut or
plt in threecornered shape so that when
ney are laid or glued together they form a cir !
lie. giving the rod the appearance of being made
INT of a single piece. Great care must be taken |
u the selection or the WOOD, as the slightest de-
ect in one piece is always fatal to the rod when |
ubiected to a sharp strain Bethabara wood |
las many favorites, but on account of it's heavi |
less is used but little compared with bamboo. |
Z comes from South America, is OF dark |
,reenish color. composed of many tough little |
ibers which look like they woven cross |
wise with the grain of the wood, and is so hard |
hat steel file makes liStle impression on it's |
surface. Red cedar makes light and pretty |
cd, and if the wood Is straig grained and |
properly cured, will stand good deal of hard |
Usage Lancewood. used so much in bait-rods |
5 also employed great deal in those intended |
or fly fishing. Greenhearr, ash and Japanese |
aue also make GOOD rods, the first named being |
almost equal to Bethabara in it's fexibleness.
Nearly every hy-fsher has his own ideas about
he proper weight of his tackle, but as rule |
light rods preferred to heavy ones If he has
trong and muscular he will probably |
hose one weighing between eight and twelve
unces, but ii he is aesthetic in his tastes and |
liable to weary he will use one not over seven
ounces. l have seen several that did not Weigh |
ver three and half-a little too light, 1 think,
or practical use. but pretty to look at and talk
bout. OF course the lighter the tackle the
more skill required in handling the fish, and as
he caster must have perfect confidence in his
cd. always feel safer with eight ounce |
me than do with the extreme light ones.
You want to know something about the
lind of flies used for bass, and where they come
rom. Well, make all my own flies during nv